Gas filling system, gas fuel vehicle and gas station

ABSTRACT

A gas filling system, a gas fuel vehicle and a gas station capable of avoiding the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle freezing and filling a gas smoothly is provided. A gas filling system comprises: a gas fuel vehicle including a receptacle; and a gas station which sends and fills a cooled gas via a filling nozzle connected to the receptacle into a tank in the gas fuel vehicle, wherein the gas filling system comprises a waterproof cover which covers a joint of the receptacle and the filling nozzle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gas filling system, a gas fuel vehicle and a gas station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, fuel cell vehicles or the like which employ, as an energy source, a fuel cell that generates electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas have been attracting attention. A fuel cell vehicle which mounts such kinds of fuel cells is equipped with a filling port for a fuel gas and a filling nozzle of a gas station is connected to a receptacle which constitutes this filling port so that a hydrogen gas, which is the fuel gas, is sent into a high-pressure tank mounted on a vehicle.

In a case where a gas is filled into a vehicle, the idea of cooling down the filling gas in consideration of reducing the filling time and suppressing the temperature rise of the gas caused by high-pressure filling has already been thought of. Therefore, there has been developed a technology of cooling a gas to be filled by a heat exchanger and then filling the gas into a vehicle (see, e.g., Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1: Japanese laid-open patent publication 2005-69329 A

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In a case where a gas is cooled and then filled into a vehicle, the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle is cooled to below zero degrees centigrade, and if water adheres to the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle, for example, in rainy conditions, the adhered water freezes and thus the nozzle may adhere to the receptacle.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gas filling system, a gas fuel vehicle and a gas station capable of avoiding the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle freezing and filling a gas smoothly.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

In order to achieve the above object, the gas filling system according to the present invention comprises: a gas fuel vehicle including a receptacle; and a gas station which sends and fills a cooled gas via a nozzle connected to the receptacle into a tank in the gas fuel vehicle, wherein the gas filling system comprises a cover which covers a joint of the receptacle and the nozzle.

According to the gas filling system with such a configuration, even in rainy weather, the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle is covered with a cover, so it is possible to avoid water adhering to the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle. Thus, it is possible to avoid the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle freezing at the time of filling the cooled gas.

The cover may be provided in a filling port having the receptacle of the gas fuel vehicle. In this case, the cover is formed into a closed-bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom plate on the axial one end of a cylindrical part, an insertion hole is formed in the bottom plate, and the receptacle may be inserted into this insertion hole. Further, the cylindrical part of the cover may have an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the head of the nozzle.

The cover may also be provided in the nozzle of the gas station. In this case, the cover may form a cylindrical shape, and may be mounted so as to extend along from the outer edge of the head of the nozzle outward in an axial direction.

The cover may include a drain pore formed at an inferior part thereof.

According to the gas filling system with such a configuration, water which entered into the cover flows out through the drain pore, so it is possible to avoid water in the cover adhering to the joint of the receptacle and the nozzle.

The gas fuel vehicle according to the present invention, in which a cooled gas is filled via a nozzle of a gas station connected to a receptacle into an inner tank, comprises a cover which covers the joint of the receptacle and the nozzle.

According to the gas fuel vehicle with such a configuration, even in rainy weather, the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle is covered with a cover, so it is possible to avoid water adhering to the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle. Thus, it is possible to avoid the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle freezing at the time of filling the cooled gas.

The cover may be provided in a filling port for a gas fuel having the receptacle. In this case, the cover is formed into a closed-bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom plate on the axial one end of a cylindrical part, an insertion hole is formed in the bottom plate, and the receptacle may be inserted into this insertion hole.

The gas station according to the present invention, in which the gas station sends and fills a cooled gas via a nozzle connected to a receptacle provided in a gas fuel vehicle into the tank of the gas fuel vehicle, comprises a cover which covers the joint of the receptacle and the nozzle.

According to the gas station with such a configuration, even in rainy weather, the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle is covered with a cover, so it is possible to avoid water adhering to the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle. Thus, it is possible to avoid the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle freezing at the time of filling the cooled gas.

The cover may also be provided in the nozzle. In this case, the cover may form a cylindrical shape, and may be mounted so as to extend along from the outer edge of the head of the nozzle outward in an axial direction.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the gas filling system, gas fuel vehicle and gas station of the present invention, it is possible to avoid the joint of a receptacle and a nozzle freezing and to fill a gas smoothly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a gas fuel vehicle and a gas station.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the joint of the filling port of a gas fuel vehicle and a filling nozzle according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the joint of the filling port of a gas fuel vehicle and a filling nozzle according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the filling port of a gas fuel vehicle according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plane cross-section view of the filling port of a gas fuel vehicle according to the third embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1: gas fuel vehicle, 2: gas station, 11: filling port, 12: receptacle, 13, 61, 72: cover, 23: filling nozzle (nozzle), 34, 62: drain pore, 100: gas filling system

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The concept of the present invention, and the gas filling system, gas fuel vehicle and gas station according to the embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

Concept of the Present Invention

FIG. 1 shows a gas filling system 100 comprising: a gas fuel vehicle 1 such as a fuel cell vehicle mounting, as an energy source, a fuel cell that generates electric power through an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidant gas; and a gas station 2 for filling a fuel gas into this gas fuel vehicle 1.

The gas fuel vehicle 1 includes a filling port 11 for a fuel gas, and the filling port is equipped with a receptacle 12. In this gas fuel vehicle 11, the filling port 11 is provided with a waterproof cover 13.

The gas station 2 comprises a filling apparatus 21 for sending out a fuel gas. A filling hose 22 is connected to this filling apparatus 21, and a filling nozzle 23 which is capable of connecting to the receptacle 12 of the gas fuel vehicle 1 is connected to the end part of this filling hose 22. Further, the gas station 2 comprises a precooler 24 so that the fuel gas sent out from the filling apparatus 21 is cooled to about −20° C.

In the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the waterproof cover 13 serves as a cover for covering the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23. According to the gas filling system 100 with such a configuration, even in rainy weather, the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 is covered with the waterproof cover 13, so it is possible to avoid water adhering to the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 even in rainy conditions. Thus, it is possible to avoid the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 freezing at the time of filling the cooled gas.

First Embodiment

Next, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description below, the components identical or similar to those in FIG. 1 are given the same reference numerals and any detailed description thereof may be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the receptacle 12 provided to the filling port 11 is arranged in an obliquely upward direction and is connected to a piping 14 which connects to a high pressure tank mounted on the gas fuel vehicle 1.

The receptacle 12 is located in openings 31 a, 32 a formed in a body 31 and a wheel house 32 which constitute a vehicle body, and a space between these openings 31 a and 32 a of the body 31 and the wheel house 32 is blocked and sealed by a seal member 33 formed of rubber or the like.

The receptacle 12 includes a valve system (not illustrated) formed therein, and when the filling nozzle 23 is connected to the head end side of the receptacle 12 and a connection port 24 of the filling nozzle 23 is coupled thereto, the internal valve system opens, allowing the filling of a gas from the filling nozzle 23.

The diameter of the head is designed to be small so that the receptacle 12 has a stepped part 15 formed in the intermediate section thereof in the longitudinal direction (axial direction), and an edge 24 a of a connection port 24 of the filling nozzle 23 connected to the receptacle 12 abuts against this stepped part 15.

The waterproof cover 13 provided in the filling port 11 is formed into a closed-bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom plate 42 on the axial one end of a cylindrical part 41, and is formed of metals, synthetic resins, rubbers and the like. An insertion hole 43 is formed in the bottom plate 42, and the receptacle 12 is inserted into this insertion hole 43. The bottom plate 42 of this waterproof cover 13 is fixed to the wheel house 32 of the gas fuel vehicle 1 and thereby mounted in the filling port 11.

The cylindrical part 41 of the waterproof cover 13 has an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the head of the filling nozzle 23, thus, the connection of the filling nozzle 23 to the receptacle 12 allows the receptacle 12 to be inserted into the waterproof cover 13, and the inner periphery of the receptacle 12 attaches firmly to the outer periphery of the filling nozzle 23.

In this waterproof cover 13, a drain pore 44 is formed, among the corners where the bottom plate side end of the cylindrical part 41 and the bottom plate 42 intersect one another, at the portion which will be located at least downward in the gravity direction when the filling nozzle 23 is connected to the receptacle 12, so it is possible to let water flow out through the drain pore 44 even when water penetrates into the waterproof cover 13.

In the waterproof cover 13, a hydrogen gas detector sensor 45 is provided, on the inner surface of the cylindrical part 41 on the side of the bottom plate 42, at the portion which will be located at least upward in the gravity direction when the filling nozzle 23 is connected to the receptacle 12.

An infrared communication device 52 is mounted on the inner surface of the bottom plate 42 of the waterproof cover 13. This infrared communication device 52 communicates with an infrared communication device 53 mounted on the head of the filling nozzle 23 connected to the receptacle 12, and transmits and receives tank information such as temperature information and pressure information in the tank.

The infrared communication device 52 may be mounted on a flange part 51 formed at the intermediate section of the receptacle 12, but in such a case, the configuration is such that, for example, a part of the bottom plate 42 is bored so that the infrared communication device 52 and the infrared communication device 53 face each other with no obstacles.

In the gas fuel vehicle 1 and the gas filling system 100 with the above configuration, the filling nozzle 23 is connected to the receptacle 12 of the filling port 11 when filling a hydrogen gas, which is a fuel gas, to the gas fuel vehicle 1.

By doing so, the receptacle 12 is inserted into the waterproof cover 13, and the inner periphery of the waterproof cover 13 is attached firmly to the outer periphery of the filling nozzle 23. As a result, the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 will be covered by the waterproof cover 13.

With such a state, a fuel gas consisting of a hydrogen gas is sent out from the filing apparatus 21 of the gas station 2 at high pressure, cooled to about −20° C. by the precooler 24, and then filled into the tank of the gas fuel vehicle 1.

In this case, even if the weather conditions are rainy and the rainwater enters directly or along the body 31 to the filling port 11, the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 is covered by the waterproof cover 13, and thus, it is possible to avoid water adhering to the joint of the receptacle 12 and the nozzle 23 which is below zero degrees due to the filling of a cooled gas.

The filling nozzle 23 is formed of materials having excellent pressure resistance, such as stainless steel, however, the outer periphery of the filling nozzle 23 will not be cooled to below zero degrees even if a cooled hydrogen gas is filled, and thus will not be adhered due to the freezing of the filling nozzle 23 and the waterproof cover 13.

Thus, even when the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 is below zero degrees due to the filling of a cooled fuel gas, it is possible to avoid the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 freezing.

Particularly, the gas station 2 for filling a fuel gas consisting of a hydrogen gas into the gas fuel vehicle 1 tends to have a small roof so that the gas station 2 has a building structure that makes it harder for the hydrogen gas to accumulate within the gas station 2 even if by any chance the hydrogen gas leaks out to the atmosphere, therefore, there exists a special circumstance where, compared to common gas stations, it is easier for rain to enter into the filling position of the fuel gas for the gas fuel vehicle

Under such a special circumstance, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid the adhesion of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 due to freezing during the filling operations, and to fill a fuel gas into the gas fuel vehicle 1 smoothly. Therefore, even when a self-service gas station 2 becomes widely available and general users who are not familiar with the filling operations carry out the filling operations, the filling operations of the fuel gas into the gas fuel vehicle 1 can still be easily carried out.

Since a drain pore 44 is formed at a position below the waterproof cover 13, water flows out from the drain pore 44 to the outside even when water penetrates into the waterproof cover 13 before the filling nozzle 23 is connected to the receptacle 12. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the risk of water accumulating in the waterproof cover 13, adhering to the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23, and causing freezing.

By connecting the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23, the hydrogen gas detector sensor 45 is covered by the waterproof cover 13. Thus, a target space for a gas leak testing is narrowed down and can be airproofed, so even a slight amount of hydrogen gas leakage can be easily detected, thereby the accuracy of hydrogen gas leakage detection by the hydrogen gas detector sensor 45 can be improved.

Further, by connecting the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23, the communication parts of the infrared communication devices 52, 53 which communicate tank information are covered by the waterproof cover 13, so it is possible to avoid the effect of disturbances and to perform infrared communications smoothly.

In addition, by inserting the filling nozzle 23 into the cylindrical part 41 of the waterproof cover 13 when connecting the filling nozzle 23 to the receptacle 12, it is possible to easily align and position the filling nozzle 23 and to carry out the filling operation of a fuel gas easily and accurately.

Furthermore, by standardizing the outer diameter of the filling nozzle 23, it is possible to standardize the waterproof cover 13 as well to reduce production costs.

Second Embodiment

Next, the second embodiment will be described. The components identical to those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and any description thereof is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the second embodiment, a waterproof cover 61 which is formed into a cylindrical shape is mounted on the side of the filling nozzle 23. This waterproof cover 61 is also formed of metals, synthetic resins, rubbers and the like, and is mounted so as to extend along from the outer edge of the head of the filling nozzle 23 forward in an axial direction (outward in an axial direction).

In this waterproof cover 61, a drain pore 62 is formed at the portion which will be located at least inferiorly in the gravity direction when the filling nozzle 23 is connected to the receptacle 12, so even when water adheres to the inner periphery of the waterproof cover 61, the adhered water flows downward and can be flowed out through the drain pore 62 to the outside.

In the gas station 2 and the gas filling system 100 with the above configuration, the filling nozzle 23 is connected to the receptacle 12 of the filling port 11 when filling a hydrogen gas, which is a fuel gas, to the gas fuel vehicle 1.

By doing so, the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 will be covered by the waterproof cover 61 provided in the filling nozzle 23. With such a state, a fuel gas consisting of a hydrogen gas is sent out from the filing apparatus 21 of the gas station 2 at high pressure, cooled to about −20° C. by the pre-cooler 24, and then filled into the tank of the gas fuel vehicle

In this case, even if the weather conditions are rainy and the rainwater enters directly or along the body 31 to the filling port 11, the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 is covered by the waterproof cover 61, and thus, it is possible to avoid water adhering to the joint of the receptacle 12 and the nozzle 23 which is below zero degrees due to the filling of a cooled gas.

Thus, even when the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 is below zero degrees due to the filling of a cooled fuel gas, it is possible to avoid the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 freezing.

In the gas station 2, because of its structure, which has a small roof due to the above-described circumstances, even in a situation where it is easier for rain to enter into the filling position of the fuel gas for the gas fuel vehicle 1, it is possible to avoid the adhesion of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 due to freezing during the filling operations, and to fill a fuel gas into the gas fuel vehicle 1 smoothly. Therefore, even users who are not familiar with the filling operations can still easily carry out the filling operations of the fuel gas into the gas fuel vehicle 1.

Since a drain pore 62 is formed at a position below the waterproof cover 61, it is possible to flow water out from the drain pore 62 to the outside even when water penetrates into the waterproof cover 61. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the risk of water accumulating in the waterproof cover 61, adhering to the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23, and causing freezing.

Further, by connecting the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23, the communication parts of the infrared communication devices 52, 53 which communicate tank information are covered by the waterproof cover 61, so it is possible to avoid the effect of disturbances and to perform infrared communications smoothly.

Furthermore, it is possible to make the waterproof cover 61 smaller than that of the case where a waterproof cover is provided on the side of the filling port 11 of the gas fuel vehicle 1, allowing material costs to be reduced.

Third Embodiment

Next, the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the gas fuel vehicle 1, a sheet-like waterproof cover 72 is adhered to the upper edge of a filling port lid 71 which is mounted on the filling port 11 so that the filling port lid 71 is capable of being opened and closed. This waterproof cover 72 is also adhered to the upper part of the filling port 11 and to the lateral part of the side facing the filling port lid 71.

In this gas fuel vehicle 1, when the filling port lid 71 of the filling port 11 is opened to connect the filling nozzle 23 to the receptacle 12 of the filling port 11, the waterproof cover 72 stored in the filling port 11 is pulled out and opened by the filling port lid 71.

Therefore, with such a state, when the filling nozzle 23 is connected to the receptacle 12 of the filling port 11, the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 is covered by the waterproof cover 72 which was pulled out by the filling port lid 71.

With such a state, a fuel gas consisting of a hydrogen gas is sent out from the filing apparatus 21 of the gas station 2 at high pressure, cooled to about −20° C. by the pre-cooler 24, and then filled into the tank of the gas fuel vehicle 1.

In this case, even if the weather conditions are rainy, the penetration of water into the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 is blocked by the waterproof cover 72, and thus, it is possible to avoid water adhering to the joint of the receptacle 12 and the nozzle 23.

Thus, even when the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 is below zero degrees due to the filling of a cooled fuel gas, it is possible to avoid the joint of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 freezing.

In the gas station 2, because of its structure, which has a small roof due to the above-described circumstances, even in a situation where it is easier for rain to enter into the filling position of the fuel gas for the gas fuel vehicle 1, it is possible to avoid the adhesion of the receptacle 12 and the filling nozzle 23 due to freezing during the filling operations, and to fill a fuel gas into the gas fuel vehicle 1 smoothly. Therefore, even users who are not familiar with the filling operations can still easily carry out the filling operations of the fuel gas into the gas fuel vehicle 1.

Note that, in the embodiments above, a fuel cell vehicle which mounts a fuel cell generating electric power using a fuel gas consisting of a hydrogen gas was described as an example, however, the present invention is not limited to fuel cell vehicles as long as the vehicle is a gas fuel vehicle that runs on gas as a fuel. 

1. A gas filling system, comprising: a gas fuel vehicle having a receptacle; and a gas station sending and filling a cooled gas via a nozzle connected to the receptacle into a tank in the gas fuel vehicle, wherein a cover which covers a joint of the receptacle and the nozzle is provided in a nozzle of the gas station, and wherein the cover forms into a cylindrical shape and is mounted so as to extend along from an outer edge of a head of the nozzle outward in an axial direction, and in a state where the nozzle is connected to the receptacle, the cover is configured to be kept in non-contact with the receptacle. 2-6. (canceled)
 7. The gas filling system according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes a drain pore formed at a lower part thereof. 8-10. (canceled)
 11. A gas station which sends and fills a cooled gas via a nozzle connected to a receptacle provided in a gas fuel vehicle into a tank in the gas fuel vehicle, wherein a cover which covers a joint of the receptacle and the nozzle is provided in a nozzle of the gas station, and wherein the cover forms into a cylindrical shape and is mounted so as to extend along from an outer edge of a head of the nozzle outward in an axial direction, and in a state where the nozzle is connected to the receptacle, the cover is configured to be kept in non-contact with the receptacle .
 12. The gas station according to claim 11, wherein the cover includes a drain pore formed at a lower part thereof.
 13. (canceled) 